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adjective / verb / noun HSK 1
Traditional 長
cháng / zhǎng
long (cháng) · to grow (zhǎng) · chief, leader (zhǎng)

Meaning

长 has two main pronunciations with different meanings. As 'cháng' it means 'long' in spatial or temporal sense. As 'zhǎng' it means 'to grow' or refers to a leader/chief. This is one of the most common characters in Chinese and appears in countless compound words.

Usage

When pronounced 'cháng', it describes length or duration and is extremely common in everyday speech (长时间, 长发). When pronounced 'zhǎng', it appears in words about growth, development, and leadership positions. Native speakers easily distinguish the pronunciation from context.

Examples

  1. 01
    这条河很长。
    Zhè tiáo hé hěn cháng.
    This river is very long.
  2. 02
    孩子们长得很快。
    Háizi men zhǎng de hěn kuài.
    The children are growing very fast.

Common collocations

  • 长时间
    cháng shí jiān
    a long time
  • 长大
    zhǎng dà
    to grow up
  • 长头发
    cháng tóu fa
    long hair
  • 校长
    xiào zhǎng
    school principal

Antonyms

Origin

Originally depicted long hair, symbolizing length. The character shows hair flowing downward, representing something extended or lengthy.

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